Brothers from other mothers...

Yesterday a very old and dear friend of mine was in town. He was a friend of my brother's growing up and we stayed very close over the years even after he moved away to San Fransisco. He is an artist and was back in town for a book signing of his newly released collection of his work. I took the kids out to his book signing in the afternoon, they just love seeing him again. The boys love his star wars covers he has done so we got a few more of those books. Aubriel was sad that he doesn't have a coloring book but he said he would send her some stuff. She reminds him of a little me, which I suppose she is. I love all of his work but have told my children even that it is kind of disturbing but it is amazing to listen to him talk about his work. You will see it and it can evoke an emotion in you and then he can talk about how the piece was born and it will give you a totally different emotion. It is fascinating as is he.

That evening Dave and I met him and his wife out along with another old friend of ours whom I also met through my brother.It was awesome to reconnect with them and talk about old times. We get to see one of the Jasons quite often as he still lives in WI but Felix is harder to catch up with as we have so many kids and he lives so far away. They both have an incredible sense of humor and I can't remember the last time I laughed so much or so hard. With my poor relationship with my own brother it is wonderful to have these two still in my life and to remain so close to each of them. They have always been just as much like my brothers as my own... I could say my own brother was probably the only thing missing from last night!

Starting out the morning being peed on...

This happens more often then one would think in our house but not usually quite like this morning. Brody once and a while has issues peeing where it will almost get clogged and we just need to wipe the end with a wet washcloth... I know too much information but it is kind of important to the story. So the kids are playing out front and Aubriel comes running in saying Brody can't pee because it is clogged. Are you thinking what I was at this moment... why is he peeing in the front yard? Which should not surprise me any since I know Brody well enough to know this is just normal. So I scoop him up and run inside with him all the while he is peeing the tiniest stream of pee all over both of us. I get him in the bathroom and he says he no longer has to pee because he already peed on me and his head. Lovely!

Alright on to the rest of the week since it was pretty busy! On the 28th my friend had her fourth baby which I got to witness. It was a long journey for her that ended beautifully. She gave birth to her first vaginally in the hospital. Her second she labored for not even 12 hours when they took him c-section for "failure to progress" at 9 cm. Her third and first VBAC attempt was take for the same reason at the same dilation after only 5 hours of labor. An hour after this c-section though she almost bled to death. She searched out just about every other option to going back to the hospital after she met me and found out more about my births and did more reading into natural childbirth and the risks involved with c-sections. Her and her husband finally decided they would like to go it alone with me as their doula. I was so honored and so excited for her. Her birth was amazing! She started with contractions at 4 am, called me around 6 am. I met them at 6:30 and her husband and I set up the pool for her. She got in around 8am and labored in there on her own until about about 10:30 am. She then changed positions and started pushing. Her water broke about 15 minutes later and she pushed for another 10. Even the language she used was so empowering... she would say while she was pushing "I am crowning the head" one could tell exactly what was happening just by watching and listening to her. She was so in tune with what was happening with her body which is something that is often lost when women rely on Dr. to tell us what is happening or what we should be doing. Her daughter was born just minutes before 11am after only 7 hours of labor and less than 30 minutes of actual pushing. Her husband caught his daughter and she cried out after "I did it, I did what they told me I couldn't." It was so beautiful. Mama and Baby are doing awesome and no one came close to death this time. So many times the risk of death is a direct result of someone trying to manage the birth rather than allowing it to simply happen.

Missing Teeth, New Tricks and The Holiday Weekend...

Aubriel officially lost her first tooth tonight... at least this time it came out naturally!

So now she has a hole straight through since it was the one directly under her other tooth...This is why he got diapers that snap close for his first birthday... We kicked off our busy weekend with a play date at the park with the kids cousin Audra... I didn't get a lot of pictures though...Then on Sat. we went up north for my cousin Amber's graduation party from MSU!Ozzye opening his birthday present from his fairy godmother Amber...Random pictures of the kids playing...We got to meet the newest baby of the family... My cousin's baby boy, Kaleb!Aubriel LOVED having a new little baby to hold although I do think her baby, Ozzye got a bit jealous!Ozzye hanging out with Aunt Jan...Ozzye back with Amber looking very sleepy... Ozzye is too.You would think we were forcing him to eat ice cream...Gage is always the guy that wants what the person next to him ordered...On Sunday we had a fire in the back yard and made smores which is a huge treat for the kids...Dave said this makes us look poor... the kids have to use rocks because we can't afford chalk for them. He then called it "natures chalk" because nature is Dave's favorite word to put in front of just about anything when talking to the kids...Ozzye waiting for smores...Dave blowing out Brody's marshmallow... This sums up most of the night. I think it got to a point where it was more fun to just burn the marshmallows than actually eat them which I am quite fine with considering what they make them out of... Then we remembered they were having fireworks in De Pere that night so we headed out and caught the end of them which the kids loved. On Monday we were invited over to one of Aubriel's friend's house for a cook out which was a good time. Her friend's cousin was Kain's first friend in Kindergarten so all the kids had a blast playing.

We thought the rest of the week might slow down but it only got more busy!

1st Birthday Pictures...

So I thought I would start out Ozzye's 1st birthday post with some pictures of him in his birthday suit.

So not only did he learn to take his diaper off but he another new trick is climbing on the table...His actual birthday was on May 14th so we had dinner and then took a bike ride to the park...And of course had cake when we returned home...We just ended up buying a cake because I had plans to make him a cake for his party on the 16th...Brody gave him his old wallet for his birthday which he loved...And seeing as how I had nothing for my poor little baby, after 5 kids I was completely out of ideas, so I got him some magnetic hematite...I know magnetic rocks are probably a bit unusual but since he doesn't put ANYTHING in his mouth, including food I thought he would love them......which he did!and so did the rest of the kids...Sat. came and I never really got around to making a cake for his party. I got as far as the brownie bottom which I still ended up serving but that was fine. It was a tie dying party and I had plans to get a lot of pictures of all our guests but I was too busy helping kids tie dye. So these are the very few pics I did get...It was a wonderful time though and I think everyone had fun!My parents got Ozzye a singing card and he started dancing when he opened it. He got too many other gifts too since most people didn't listen when I said NO gifts! But thank you very much none the less and for those that actually listened thank you VERY much as well!Brody the next morning... By this picture one would think he was doing more than just tie dying the night before...This is what the kids did when I asked them to try on all their stuff and pose for me...Gage only liked his hat, he did make more items though...Ozzye would not leave his hat on...So here is Ozzye in his pool 1 year ago...and here he is 1 year later...We really thought after leaving the pool out all year that there would be nothing left by the time all the snow melted but this has proven to be the best $6 we ever spent. The kids have a blast jumping around in it now...So on Sunday I started feeling bad I never got around to actually making his birthday cake. Dave said we better start saving up now for his therapy when he is older. But all of the other 4 have super cute 1st birthday cakes I couldn't not do anything. So I called mom to the rescue and we whipped up a carousal cake. Of course the boys were concerned about it looking too girly so they made sure to decorate it with gargoyles and all.Then they say happy birthday to the tune of Ironman for our own little OzMan...Trying to get some pictures of ALL the kids now in their new tie dyed clothes...Shocking I know but even Dave tie dyed. He told the kids he would only do his underwear but decided to do the shirt the kids made for him instead... I can't believe my sweet baby boy is 1 year old already. This has to be the fastest year yet! I sure hope they don't continue like this... although he continues to be such a wonderful little boy so I sure hope that continues!

Happy Birthday Ossyres Mathias!!!